Cleaning LCD monitor screen

I have been looking at some annoying spots or smudges on my LCD monitor screen. ( why do some people insist on pointing at something displayed and touching the screen surface? ) I know that LCD screens are not like CRT screens where you could clean then with a spritz of Windex.

Checking around in google seems to have come up with tons of suggestions. The most common one seems to be using a 50-50 mixture of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol on a lint free cloth. This is the same mixture I use to clean old 35 mm slides and it works well on them.

I am curious as to what the opinion is here in the Lounge? Any good suggestions?

Re: Cleaning LCD monitor screen

Bob,
That has been a typical and good approach. However, the first point of reference should be the literature <img src=/S/bummer.gif border=0 alt=bummer width=15 height=15> that came with your display. These days not all front-of-screen materials are the same so there is not a single good recipe for all displays. The polarizer material and/or its coatings may be compromised by any harsh cleaning agents. If you roll your own aqueous cleaning solution start weak and try it out. If I am in doubt, I try a drop of mild liquid detergent in a glass of water as a starting point. Any soft, absorbent cloth will do , but if little specks of cloth on the screen bother you then go for a lint free cloth.
Paul

Re: Cleaning LCD monitor screen

Paul,

Unfortuneately, The owners booklet that came with the monitor does not go very deeply into screen cleaning.

Just says: "periodic cleaning with a soft DRY cloth is recommended. Do not use tissue to clean the screen, it may damage the screen.
Do not use harsh chemicals to clean the screen such as thinner, spray type cleaner, Benzene, abrasive cleaner or acid or alkaline solvents".

So I guess I'll go with the distilled wateralcohol mix. Upon checking the ingredients in an expensive commercial "LCD cleaner", it said it contained distilled water and alcohol!

Re: Cleaning LCD monitor screen

John,
I'm sure the microfiber cloth is just a lint free cloth but using "plain" water could be a problem in some areas, at least.

We don't have the problem here on the Cape but I've been in certain areas that I wouldn't even consider drinking the water and these were NOT the so called third world countries either. Besides heavy alkaline deposits and other additives, who knows what else there is? I remember checking into a "name" hotel in a major east coast city ( to remain unnamed ) and drawing a glass of water from the tap. There were these strange brown unidentified objects floating in the water. So much for the drink of water. Went to the hotel bar for a Scotch. ( no water )

Re: Cleaning LCD monitor screen

Hey Bob, I've (so far) only cleaned my fairly new LCD once, but I used a 35 year old cloth baby diaper of which I have several that I use to wipe my plastic lens eye glasses. (Yes, they are left over from our only son and washed a gazillion times.) I dampened it with a sprig of water from my BOTTLED water dispenser, made sure I squeezed it well and carefully wiped the screen, gently. I don't see any ill effects from that cleaning like blurring or distortion, but who knows. To be honest, I did no reading on the topic and have always used Windex on my CRT, but something in my "gut" told me not to do that with the LCD.

Re: Cleaning LCD monitor screen

I am not so gentle - I think the LCD makers are just doing a CYA thing. True, the screens will scratch easier than the thick glass used to contain the vacuum (do you contain a vacuum?) with CRTs, but they are still pretty tough. Though I admit the 24 year old all cotton diapers from my youngest are probably not as soft as Al's, but they do fine. But then I don't mess around with distilled water, alcohol, etc. I just blast the screens with Endust for Electronics - the stuff in the blue can - and rub it clean, then lightly buff out any remaining streaks - as much as possible. One thing I have noticed, we have two Samsungs and two ViewSonics, and the 4 year old Samsungs come out virtually streak free with little effort. The ViewSonics are nearly impossible to get streak free. The tricks I use to minimize streaks is to try to get the entire monitor in one or two wide swipes - then leave it. If you fuss with it and try to get a remaining streak, you will end up with high blood pressure and a hairy keyboard.

I have noticed the best way to hide the streaks is to leave the monitor turned on with open windows covering the screen. <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15>

Oh, concerning the diapers - or what ever clean rag you use - make sure they are not washed or dried with any fabric softener - especially the drier sheets, they really cause streaks.

Bill (AFE7Ret) Freedom is NOT Free!Heatis the bane of all electronics!─────────────────────

Re: Cleaning LCD monitor screen

Bob

Bit late here but I always clean my LCD screen after it has been off for a long period of time and is at room temperature. I do this so as not to get the liquid I am cleaning it with to evaporate and leave smears. I then take a cloth and use window/mirror cleaner, spray it on to the cloth and then give a vigorous but light clean over. Afterwards I give it a good wipe/polish with a dry cloth....works a dream for me.

Re: Cleaning LCD monitor screen

I have to thank all who have contributed their thoughts and ideas on this subject. I'll just have to list them all and start working my way down the line. <img src=/S/bravo.gif border=0 alt=bravo width=16 height=30>

Re: Cleaning LCD monitor screen

<hr>May I add one to your list? -- baby wipes. This was recommended to me by a computer tech some years ago and I have successfully used them ever since.<hr>

In looking at two boxes of baby wipes we keep around for when the grandson is over, I see Aloe Vera, Lanolin, and Citric Acid as ingredients, as well as other things that only a chemical engineer might understand. I am not too sure I would want them on my screens, nor would I think the lanolin and aloe vera would be conducive to providing a streak free display - and citric acid is... well, acrid! You actually rub those on your screens?

Bill (AFE7Ret) Freedom is NOT Free!Heatis the bane of all electronics!─────────────────────

Re: Cleaning LCD monitor screen

No. I actually use the el cheapo no-name packs. Not sure exactly what is in them, but I agree I wouldn't be wiping "Aloe Vera, Lanolin, and Citric Acid " over any screen especially not lanolin as that is oily. Sorry should have been more specific in that I meant the cheaper alternatives.